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The Southwest Research Institute, which leads the mission's science operations, said that Juno is out of "safe mode".

That is a state a spacecraft is programmed to go into when it senses something is wrong.

Juno hit a snag earlier this week after it flew past Earth to increase its speed to barrel beyond the asteroid belt to Jupiter.

Despite the problem, scientists said Juno is on target to slip into orbit around Jupiter. It is expected to arrive in 2016.

Juno was launched in 2011 and flew beyond the orbit of Earth's closest planetary neighbour, Mars, before looping back towards our home planet for a quick visit.

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